Audit report of 2005 reviewed by city

The Paynesville City Council took the following actions at their meeting on Wednesday, May 10.

The council approved its 2005 audit report from Kern DeWenter Viere, Ltd. The report indicated that the city's operation raised $252,300 more in revenue ($1.506 million) than it totaled in expenses ($1.254) in 2005. The city's fiscal year runs the same as the calendar year: from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2005.

"What you're seeing is the city really is in a pretty good financial situation," auditor Loren Viere told the city council last week during an hour-long review of the audit.

The council, after receiving a recommendation from the Public Works Committee that Pomeroy Avenue does have enough pedestrian traffic to warrant a sidewalk, approved adding a sidewalk on the east side of Pomeroy and connecting it to the sidewalk by Casey's General Store. Originally, a sidewalk was planned on the west side of Pomeroy, but then it was removed after protests from Pomeroy residents. After confirming the need for a sidewalk on South Street, the council agreed to revisit the need for a sidewalk on Pomeroy and agreed it was needed.

The council agreed to reduce its finalists for the vacant city administrator position from three to one and to arrange for a second interview with Renee Eckerly of Cass Lake.

The council approved rezoning the new Ampe Morningside Plat Five, which includes 18 lots, from agricultural to R1 (single and two-family residential).

The council approved a conditional-use permit for Scott Moszer, who wants to add a deck and do some remodeling to his residential house, which is located and zoned as part of the central business district on Stearns Avenue. In order to allow the remodeling, the conditional-use permit was necessary.

The council set a variance hearing for Casey and Jody Meagher for Wednesday, June 14, at 6:30 p.m. The Meaghers want to construct a 24' by 30' detached garage on their property in the Chladek Addition that is proposed to be 10' 6" from Maple Street, while the setback is 30 feet.

The council approved payments to Bolton & Menk for $2,165 for work completed on the airport development and layout ($2,000 was budgeted) and $1,000 for additional work on the proposed Ampe Park.

The council expressed interest in helping the proposed Habitat for Humanity project in Paynesville, which is starting to look for a lot.

The council expressed interest in having the Paynesville Area Historical Society coordinate the community's sesquicentennial celebration and directed city attorney Bill Spooner to research the limits for allowable city spending for this.

The council discussed forming a Public Safety Committee, as proposed by Mayor Jeff Thompson. Council members agreed that this was a good idea but suggested that a current committee could be either eliminated or merged with this new committee to avoid further burdening city staff and council members with committee responsibilities.

The council approved applying for a second year of grants through the Safe and Sober Communities Grant Program.

The council approved a temporary closing of James Street for Tuesday, June 20, from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. for the pedal tractor pull, which starts at 7 p.m.

The council accepted the high bid of $876 from Chad Rien of Paynesville for a 1996 Dodge Neon, acquired by the police department as DWI forfeiture. Rein's bid was the highest of three received.

The council approved declaring 200 decorative landscape blocks - removed from the downtown planters that are being redone - as surplus property and authorized the advertising for bids.

The council was informed that the new warning siren on the west end of town should be installed this week and tested once it is up. Its first official test will occur on Wednesday, June 7, at 1 p.m. during the monthly siren test on the first Wednesday of each month.